Let us help you get on the road to a better quality of life through good sleep!

Late summer of 2008, Nancy Tuscano, RRT, began working as a Respiratory Therapist at Sierra Nevada Hospital. Previously she had successfully managed a business for 13 years known as Pacific Pulmonary Services, a company that provides equipment for people who suffer from sleep apnea. She quickly saw that the Nevada City-Grass Valley area did not have a facility in which to test for sleep disorders. Patients would have to drive to Sacramento or Marysville late at night and early the next morning. For many, this could prove to be hazardous. It seemed to Nancy that for people who already have sleeping difficuties that to drive a long distance could be dangerous. Driving without adequate sleep is similar to driving under the influence. It seemed that the Nevada County area could support its own sleep disorder facility; therefore, she found a quiet, secluded, serene location in the fall of 2008 and started transforming the three office suites into a four-bedroom, three bath sleep clinic. Our sleep study suites feature soothing spa-like decor, Sleep Number beds, fine linens, flat-screen TV with cable and music, down comforters and pillows. Because most sleep facilities are very clinical in appearance, we felt people would relax and sleep better in a comfortable environment.

Sierra Sleep Diagnostics performs all sleep disorder studies using state of the art equipment identical to a hospital based lab. With a great deal of hard work, long days and nights as well as with the help of wonderful friends and employees, we opened our doors on December 27, 2008. We are located at 590 Searls Avenue, Suite 3 in Nevada City. Here at Sierra Sleep Diagnostics, we are able to do split night studies in which CPAP/BiPAP therapy is applied if the patient is positive and meets criteria in time to titrate, diagnostic only sleep studies, all-night CPAP titration as well as MSLT (daytime studies). We are also able to provide a home study unit for patients who are unable to be away from home. To help patients with CPAP compliance, we also provide PAP Naps which is a three to four hour daytime limited study to acclimate patients to their therapy. Our medical director is Kim Hardin, M.D., Professor of Pulmonology UCDMC. We are pleased to have Grass Valley's John Lace, M.D., Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care, as our interpreting physician.

Our professional staff includes Nancy Tuscano, RRT, William Zollinger, RPSGT, and Jason Sazama, RPSGT. Our Polysomnography Technicians are Carrie Kane, Anthony Sunseri and Ambri Wilson. Last but not least, we have the pleasure of Valerie Rabak who keeps us organized. She is our Patient Care Coordinator/Billing Manager.

Symptoms that may be linked to sleep apnea:

Frequent Headaches
Snoring
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Impotence
Depression
Frequent urination at night
Waking up with dry mouth
Daytime sleepiness
Unexplained memory loss
Mood changes

Most insurance, including Medicare, will cover polysomnography night time and day time studies in order to diagnose a sleep disorder.